You’re ready to dive into the absolute chaos that is the Culling Game arc. Since the anime is catching up to these events, the rules can feel a bit like reading a legal contract written by a sorcerer on a caffeine high.
Here is the breakdown of the fundamental rules established by Kenjaku to facilitate this "ritual."
The 8 Initial Rules
When the Culling Game begins, every player is bound by these core mandates. Breaking them usually results in cursed technique extraction (which is a polite way of saying "you die").
| Rule | The Rule | The "Fine Print" |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awakening | After awakening a Cursed Technique, players must declare their participation at a colony of their choice within 19 days. |
| 2 | Participation | Any player who breaks Rule 1 shall be subject to Cursed Technique extraction. |
| 3 | Consent | Non-players who enter a colony become "players" the moment they step inside. |
| 4 | Scoring | Players score points by killing other players. |
| 5 | Point Value | Sorcerers are worth 5 points ; Non-sorcerers are worth 1 point . |
| 6 | Rule Addition | A player may spend 100 points to add a new rule to the game. |
| 7 | The Game Master | The Game Master must accept any proposed rule, provided it doesn't have a long-lasting effect on the game's operation. |
| 8 | Stagnation | If a player's score remains the same for 19 days, they are subject to Cursed Technique extraction. |
Key Mechanics to Remember
The Colonies
The game takes place within 10 barriers (colonies) across Japan, connected by a line that forms a giant circle. Once you enter, you are tracked by a "Kogane"—a small, moth-like shikigami that acts as your personal interface and scorekeeper.
The "Loophole" of Rule 8
Rule 8 is designed to force combat. You can't just hide in a basement for three weeks. You have to kill, or—as our protagonists eventually figure out—use Rule 6 to find a way to transfer points to others to keep everyone’s "timer" from hitting zero.
Adding Rules
This is the most dynamic part of the arc. Because players can spend 100 points to change the game, the ruleset evolves. For example, early goals for Itadori and Megumi include adding rules that allow for point transfer or exiting the game .
A Quick Correction/Heads-Up: While these are the rules as they appear in the manga (which the anime is currently adapting), Kenjaku is a master of the "Binding Vow." The rules are designed to create a massive amount of cursed energy for his ultimate goal: the merger of humanity with Tengen.
